Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) yesterday revealed plans for its third expansion project in China within the last 12 months.
The company intends to open a laboratory instruments manufacturing plant in the Suzhou municipality in early 2012.
Local Chinese authorities are in the process of building out the region’s technology-based infrastructure, and the Thermo Fisher facility plays an important role in their plans, according to the company.
"China continues to grow significantly and is now our third largest country in terms of revenue. By bringing Suzhou online to complement our existing facilities, we continue to increase our depth of capabilities and strengthen our competitive advantage in the region," CEO Marc Casper said in prepared remarks.
Thermo Fisher last year opened a demonstration laboratory in Beijing and an engineering facility in Shanghai. The company currently employs more than 1,400 people in the country.
The Waltham, Mass.-based company opened the Shanghai facility in August, just days after it revealed that it would soon shutter its East Providence, R.I. plant, forcing the company to lay off at least 65 employees.
